San Diego Padres (11-21) at Philadelphia Phillies (14-18)
Clayton Richard (1-4, 4.89) vs. Vance Worley (2-2, 2.84)
Time: 7:05 Citizens Bank Park
TV: CSN
Weather: Clear, 67
Media: Twitter and Facebook
The Phillies will have some new blood on the roster when they take the field tonight. The hope is that with these new guys will come some new vibes around the team, which is currently marred in a season-long, three-game losing streak. Lucky, for the Phillies–a team that could use a few wins and some momentum–there is no better doormat in the N.L. than the San Diego Padres, who are currently sporting an N.L. low 11 wins this season, with just two of those wins coming on the road.
So far, the big issue for the Padres has been scoring runs. While their pitching ranks in the middle of the pack, they have scored just 102 runs this season, second worst in the N.L., ahead of only Pittsburgh. That’s good news for Vance Worley as he looks to bounce back from his worst start of the season against Washington–a game in which he went six innings, but allowed five runs. Worley’s faced the Padres once already this year, and was brilliant, pitching seven shutout innings to get his first win of the season.
Opposite Worley will be left-hander, Clayton Richard. 2012 has been a something of a struggle for Richard so far, as his 4.89 ERA would be the highest of any season he’s pitched in since 2008 when he made just eight starts and 13 appearances for the White Sox. Richard was the only Padres starter the Phillies did not face during their four game series in San Diego, but he has been good against the Phils historically, sporting a 2.40 ERA in two career starts against them. Both of those starts came in the pitcher-friendly confines of Petco Park, however. He has never pitched at the much more hitter-friendly CBP.
Fans looking to get a look at the new faces on the Phillies roster will have to wait as Hector Luna has been held out of the starting lineup. There is a fair chance we could see Diekman or Valdes out of the bullpen tonight, though, as Worley has failed to go deeper than seven innings in any start this season and has pitched just one complete game in his career.
Lineup: Rollins SS, Polanco 3B, Victorino CF, Pence RF, Wigginton 1B, Ruiz C, Mayberry LF, Galvis 2B, Worley P
Your gameday beer: Heineken
I bought some Heineken for tonight’s game and, knowing that, thought it’d be fraudulent if I didn’t recommend it in my Gameday. As far as imports go, there’s nothing quite like this reliable standby. It doesn’t have a complex taste, so it may not rate highly in the opinions of wiser beer connoisseurs than myself, but sometimes there is reverence in simplicity. I’ve found it goes great with baja fish tacos. – By Ryan
GO PHILLIES
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